Utilization Management Supervisor (PPM III)

King County's Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) provides equitable opportunities for people to be healthy, happy, and connected to community.

At King County Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS), we believe in working as one team that solves problems—striving to be customer-focused and drive for the best results. We envision a welcoming community that is racially just. We believe the field of human services exists to undo and mitigate unfair structures. We seek to lead the way by working as respectful and responsible stewards for our community. 

The Behavioral Health and Recovery Division (BHRD) of DCHS is seeking a Hospital and Mental Health Residential (HMHR) Treatment Utilization Management Supervisor (Project/Program Manager III). This position holds direct responsibility for the overall utilization management operations of the Hospital & Mental Health Residential Treatment Team.

The Supervisor will lead a team of Mental Health (MH) Care Authorizers responsible for ensuring that King County residents accessing MH residential care and other high-intensity MH programs receive the appropriate level of care, appropriate services, and the support needed to step down to lower levels of care as they progress in their recovery. This position will participate as a key member of the BHRD Utilization Management Committee and will lead quality assurance activities, including site visits, contract compliance reviews, invoice reconciliation, and other monitoring tasks as assigned.

To be considered minimally qualified applicant must demonstrate a background that provides the knowledge, skills and ability to: 

• Lead a team of MH Care Authorizers tasked with ensuring that King County residents that are accessing MH Residential care and other high intensity MH programs are accessing the level of care that is needed, are receiving appropriate services, and are receiving additional support needed to step down to lower levels of care and progress in their recovery
• Participate as a key member of the BHRD Utilization Management Committee
• Lead quality assurance activities, including site visits of mental health residential treatment providers, contract compliance reviews, invoice reconciliation, and other monitoring activities as assigned.
• Lead quality improvement activities, focused on improving oversight of the delivery of high intensity mental health services, improving flow between levels of care, and improving efficiencies in utilization management/care coordination.
• Complete and direct continuing stay reviews to determine that an individual continues to meet medical necessity standards commensurate to the current level of functioning as determined by the Level of Care Utilization System (LOCUS) Assessment.
• Supervise and monitor team of Mental Health Utilization Project-Program Manager II staff as part of a collaborative Utilization Management Team.
• Lead the collection, analysis, and reporting of utilization and care-transition data to ensure timely progression of care, appropriate resource use, and optimal patient throughput across the continuum.
• Develop close coordination, partnership and communication within the Behavioral Health and Recovery Division (BHRD) and other Departments within the Department of Community & Human Services.
• Ensure continuing stay reviews meet Utilization Management Timelines established by BHRD’s Quality team and Managed Care Organizations (MCOs). 
• Communicate outcomes of continuing stay reviews with supervisors of mental health residential facilities contracted through the King County Integrated Care Network (KCICN).
• Develop and maintain excellent working relationships with behavioral health providers working in the mental health residential treatment continuum. 
• Align workflow of Utilization Management Team to promote equity and social justice, recovery-oriented system of care, with the goal to provide transition from psychiatric hospitalization.
• Attend and participate in assigned meetings, treatment conferences, and committees relevant to performance of job functions. 
• Troubleshoot, advocate, and resolve issues that may arise between community members, behavioral health housing providers, or governmental organizations.
• Participate as part of Hospital and Mental Health Residential Treatment (HMHR) Section Leadership Team.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

WE ARE LOOKING FOR CANDIDATES WHO HAVE:

Desired Qualifications:

ADDITIONAL POSITION INFORMATION:

• This position has been designated Mission Critical. Unless otherwise directed by the County Executive, department director or agency head, all employees, regardless of designation, are expected to report to work or request leave during an emergency or inclement weather. For more detailed information, please visit HR Policy County Operations During Emergency Situations and the King County Guidelines for Workforce Management in an Emergency.
• The Behavioral Health and Recovery Division (BHRD) team works in a hybrid model, with days in the office as well as telecommuting. The ratio of remote to onsite work will be dependent on business needs and is subject to change. The primary onsite location is Chinook, 401 5^th Ave, Seattle, WA 98104. Employees must reside in Washington state and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements.
• King County has a robust collection of tools and resources to support working remotely. The individual selected for this opportunity will join an innovative and progressive team that is redefining how we work as we transition to the department's hybrid environment. Employees will be provided with a County-issued laptop and must maintain a home workspace with an internet connection where they can reliably perform work and remain available and responsive during scheduled work hours.
• This position is exempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act and is not eligible for overtime. Typical hours are Monday - Friday, 8am - 5pm.
• This position is not represented by a union.
• Classification: Project/Program Manager III
   

WHO MAY APPLY:
 This position is open to all qualified candidates that meet the minimum qualifications. Interviews for this selection process will take place on or around the week of September 28, 2026. Candidates who wish to be considered for this position must submit an online King County application and respond to the supplemental questions. Your application may be rejected as incomplete if you do not include the requested and relevant information in the online application and supplemental questionnaire. Applications and/or supplemental questionnaires that state, "see my resume" are considered incomplete and will not be considered to be competitive. If you have any questions, please contact Alicia Larsen, [email protected].

This selection process will fill our current vacancy but also create a pool of qualified candidates should additional Project/Program Manager III positions open up within the next 6 months.

Are you ready to make a difference? Come join the team dedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work and play.

Application Process

If you are interested in pursuing this position and supporting King County’s vision for unified, equitable, and high-performing government, please follow the application instructions carefully. Provide us with your work history as applicable, ensuring that you provide details that highlight your ability to fulfill the requirements for this position.

If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, or you would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process, please contact Alicia Larsen at [email protected].

King County's Vision, Mission, and ACTIVATE Values unite us.

King County serves residents with a relentless sense of urgency, delivering on commitments with transparency and accountability. We are action-oriented, creative problem solvers who collaborate across roles, engage directly with communities, and challenge the status quo to achieve meaningful impact. As a unified team, we uphold high ethical and stewardship standards, embrace change, stay curious, and continuously improve. Across all interactions, we listen first, act quickly, and stay aligned as a team to earn and sustain public trust. Learn more about our Vision, Mission, and ACTIVATE Values here and visit our Why work at King County page here.

King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer

No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on sex, race, color, national origin, ethnicity, religious affiliation, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age except by minimum age and retirement provisions, pregnancy, status as a family caregiver, parental status, marital status, military status or status as a veteran who was honorably discharged or who was discharged solely as a result of the person's sexual orientation or gender identity or expression, citizenship or immigration status, genetic information, or other protected class. However, to the extent that distinction or differential treatment on the basis of citizenship or immigration status is authorized by either federal or state law, regulation, or government contract, it is not an unfair practice.

Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.